Ironing table top



June 7, 1960 D. J. MuNsoN IRONING TABLE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1957 INVENTOR.

DONA/.D JMW/sou BY 5W? ATTORNEYS June 7, 1960 D. J. MUNsoN IRONING TABLE Top 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. .Da/Aw I MUA/sou Mau l* gratas atent O IRoNlNG TABLE TOP Filed Feb. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 641,149

6 Claims. (Cl. 38--139) This invention relates generally to ironing table tops and more particularly concerns a top which is adjustable to present different shaped ironing surfaces.

Ironing table tops have conventionally been designed to have a dat elongated shape with one end portion thereof being tapered in width to provide a bluntly tapered nose The nose or pointed end of the board provides a narrower surface than the main body portion of the board to facilitate the ironing of small articles. lt is found, however, that it is frequently desirable during performance of the normal ironing operation to have a board that has a constant width throughout its length. This is particularly true in the ironing of large articles such as table cloths, sheets, bedspreads and the like. Furthermore with a uniform shaped substantially rectangular top an ironing table lends itself more effectively and more attractively to use for purposes other than ironing, such as for a table, counter, bar or the like.

It is accordingly the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel ironing table top which is convertible between the tapered nose and generally rectangular shapes to present the best possible ironing surface for all types of articles to be ironed thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing table top formed of a pair or more of sheets of rigid material lying on a substantially common plane to jointly present a flat ironing surface and which are movably interconnected for movement on their respective planes to adjust the size of the ironing surface.

Still another object of the invention is to present a new and improved ironing table top having a stationary top section and a plurality of movable top sections pivoted to the stationary section for relative spreading and closing movement to adjust the size of the top between rectangular and tapered shapes wherein the top has a continuous peripheral rim regardless of its adjusted shape.

With the above mentioned objectives `in view the invention broadly comprises an ironing table top having an elongated flat main section presenting an ironing surface, a nose at one end of the main section providing an extension of the iroing surface, said nose including a pair of partially overlapping sections which are pivoted to the main section on transversely spaced axes perpendicular to the ironing surface for relative spreading and closing movement for adjustment of the size of said extension, and a slidable control device connected to said pair of sections for effecting said movement thereof.

The above mentioned and still additional objects of the invention will be brought to light during the course of the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing table in erected condition and embodying the top which is the subject of this invention. The top is shown in its expanded or rectangular condition.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the top with the nose expanded.

2,939,232 Patented June 7, 1960 #e lCE Fig. 3 is an inverted partial plan view of the top in the same condition as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but with the nose in its collapsed or tapered condition.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view similar to Fig. 3 but with the nose collapsed.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the top taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section through the top taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 with portions of the top broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. The table is designated generally by the numeral 10 and comprises an elongated at top or board 11 which is supported in horizontal position by a pair of leg members 12 and 13 arranged in longitudinally crossing relation under the top. The leg members are pivotally interconnected as at 14 at their point of crossing and are pivotally connected to the underside of the top 11, one of them slidably, for collapsing of the legs against the top in a well known manner. The table leg structure forms no part of the present invention and accordingly is not disclosed in detail. The top 11 may in fact conceivably beused independently of any connected leg structure as will be subsequently understood. It is anticipated, however, that the primary use of the top will be found in a conventional ironing table structure wherein a collapsible supporting structure is attached to the top.

The top 11 has a stationary body or main section 15 which is mounted on the legs 12. This section comprises a at top sheet 16 of elongated substantially rectangular design with a marginal rim 17 extending along the side and rear edges thereof. Sheet 16 may be perforate as shown for steam passage therethrough and is preferably reinforced by bracing bars (not shown) extending transversely or longitudinally along the underside thereof. The front end portion, denoted at 18, of the top section 15 is tapered transversely as shown in Fig. 3 with the rim 17 having portions 19 extending partially along the tapered side edges and terminating short of the front edge 20 of sheet 16. A cross brace 21 extends transversely across the underside of portion 18 of the main section and connects the rim portions 19. Other cross members (not shown) are provided at longitudinally spaced points along the underside of the top sheet 16 and to these are secured parallel longitudinally extending bars 22 (Fig. 7) which jointly carry a pair of longitudinally spaced cross pins which serve as slidable pivots for the upper ends of legs 12 and 13, the forwardmost pin being denoted at 24.

A longitudinally extending forwardly opening slideway is provided in the central area of the portion 18 of body section 15. This slideway is formed by cutting out the central area of top sheet 16 from the edge 20 rearwardly to the forward cross brace 21 and bending the inner opposing marginal edges of portion 18 downwardly as at 25 to form parallel longitudinally extending anges which serve as sides for the slideway. A strap 26 extends transversely under the anges 25 intermediate edge 20 and brace 21 with the ends thereof 27 secured to the section portion 18 at either side of the slideway as by spot welding. The brace 21 has upwardly opening seats 23 (Fig. 7) cut therein the bottoms of which are on a horizontal plane with the lower edges of flanges 25 and the strap 26. It will now be understod that the anges 25, brace 21 and strap 26 form a longitudinally extending open end slide in the front central portion of the top member 16.

Turning now to Fig. 4 the pivoted nose sections of the top will be described. These sections are referred to as the left and right nose sections and are respectively designated generally by the numerals 30 and 31. These sections .arevinversely identical in construction, as will be understood, and it is accordingly necessary to describe only one of the sections in detail. The right section 31 is of elongated flat design with a top sheet 32, preferably perforate as shown, having a marginalrim 34.extending along one side edge thereof. The sheet 32 is Vof constant width throughout the major portion Yof its length. One end portion thereof, however, diminishes in width toward the end, having a tapering edge 35 which meets a rounded tip 36. The rim 34 has an arcuate end portion 37 which extends partially 'around Vthe tip 36. The section 31 lis pivoted, Vas by a at headed pivot pin 38, to the main top section. Y15 to extend longitudinally forward therefrom with sheet 32 partially overlapping the sheet 16 and with the rim 34 in Valignment with rim 17 as shown in Fig. 2. Y Y Y With the section 31 being pivoted centrally along its rear edge it is laterally swingable between arstraight forward position as in Fig. 2 andan inwardly angling position as shown in Fig. 4. The top sheet 32 and frame 34 are cutaway as at 39 adjacent the pivot to allowv the rim portion 34 to `come into endwise alignment withV rim 17 when the section is in its straight or spread position. Below the sheet 32 the section integrally carries a guide rod `40. This rod has one end attached to the rim 34 as at 41 at a point in approximate transverse alignment with thefront edge 20 of sheet 16. Y`From its connection at v41 the rod extends forwardly gradually diverging from the rim strip 34 to the arcuate rim portion 37 at the end of the section where it is connected at 42. This rod is spaced below but parallel to the section top sheet 32.Y v

The section 30 is disposed laterally opposite the section 31 and has a laterally reverse but otherwise identical construction and design.

The two nose sections 30 and 3'1 are each konly slightly greater in width than half the width of the main top section 15 so that the sections, when spread, will slightly overlap along their adjacent marginal edges as denoted at 44 in Figs. 2 and 7. When the sections are swung inwardly about their pivots 38, the top sheet 32 of the upper overlapping section here shown as 31 will slide along the top surface of section 30 until the rim portions 37 come into endwise contact or near contact as shown in Figs. 4 and Y5. The tapered edges 35 allow the sections to be relatively closed to the position shown. These sheet edges, however,.present a forwardly opening V when the sections are opened or spread about their pivots to .the position shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3.

A longitudinally movable filler section or slide denoted generally at 45 is used to ll the space between the edges 35 and will now be described. This slide 45 also serves as a single control for manually spreading and closing the sections 3l) and 31. The slide is best shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. It comprises generally an elongated plate 46 having laterally spaced stiifening ribs 47 with a rim ller strip 48 mounted'crosswise at one end thereof. The member 45 is adapted for a longitudinal sliding fit ing the fore and aft extending slideway formed by the flanges 25, brace 21 and strap 26. The rear portion of plate 46 slides along the underside of sheet 16 in flush engagement therewith.

Rim ller strip 48 is provided with apertures 49 near its ends, as best shown in Fig. 8, which slidably receive the guide rods 40 on the wing members 30 and 31. Inasmuch as the rods 40 relatively converge in their forward extension, it will be understood that as the slide 45 is moved inarearward direction the sections 30 and 31 will be relatively closed. On the other hand, forward movement of the slide '45 will spreadthe nose sections.

VIThe manner of convertingthe top between forwardly tapering and generally rectangular shapes will be readily understood. During normal ironing operations the operator will use the top in the condition shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with the sections Sil and 31 in relatively closed posit-ion to present a conventional tapered front end on the board. The metal sheets forming the top surface are sufficiently thin to present a smooth continuous ironing surface, the overlapping portions thereof being unnoticeable when a pad and cover have been applied to the top. In this position the slide 45 is retracted to its rearmost position. When it is desired to expand the nose of the top to the condition shown in r"Eigsjl through 3, the operator merely reaches under the top and pulls the element 43 in a forward direction. With this movement the element 48 acting Von guide rods 40 spreads the sections 30 and 31 to positions where their rim portions 34 are parallel to each other and are brought into alignment with therim portions 17 at opposite sides of section 15. Rim element 4S moves into position between rim portions 37 and plate 46 lls the space between the edges 35 of sections'30 and 3'1. Rearward movement of slide 45, of course, closes sections 30 and 31 to their original positions. Y y

lt is found that la pad and cover can be provided which accommodates both conditions of the top. These are formed to normallyY 4fit the top in its rectangular condition.` When the nose is closed the pad and cover portions adjacent the forward end of the top are wrapped partially under the top.

it isrunderstood that'suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modiv fications come within the YspiritV and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. tln an ironing table top, an elongated body presenting a flat substantially Yrectangular ironing surface, a pair of flat overlapping nose sections extending from and beyond one end of the body section to present an extension of said ironing surface, said sections being pivotally connected to the :body on axes perpendicular to the ironing surface thereof for relative spreading and closing movement of the sections to adjust the width of said extension, a manually actuated control mounted on the body for limited movement in advance and return directions along the same path, and means connecting said control to both of said nose sections for simulutaneously spreading said sections as the control is moved in one direction and closing said sections as the control is moved in the other direction.

2. An ironing table top structure having a body portion and an end portion, said end portion being comprised of a central portion and a pair of side wing portions oomplementarily providing a generally flat ironing surface, means `movably mounting said wing portions on the body portion for movement in planes generally'parallel to the plane of the ironing surface into overlapping relation with respect tothe central portion so as to provide for a contracted end ironing surface.

3. An ironing table top structure having a body portion and a front end portion, the body portion having straight parallel side edges, the end portionprovicling a generally'flat ironing surface and including a pair of ironing surface forming wings disposed in side by side relation, said wings having straight outer side edges, means movably mounting said wings on the body portion for movement in planes generally parallelV to the plane of the ironing surface between a relatively open position with therouter wing edges in respective rectilinear align- Trnent with the body portion side edges to providean expanded end ironing' surface and a relativelyclosed position with said wing edges converging forwardly to provide a Acontracted end yironing surface, ya single manually operative control means movably Vmounted on the body portion, and means connecting the control means vto both Wings for moving the wings between said positions and releasably locking the wings in said positions.

4. An ironing table top structure having a 'body portion and an end portion, said end portion being comprised of a central portion and a pair of side Wing portions complementarily providing a generally at ironing surface, means movably mounting said wing portions on the body portion for movement into overlapping relation with respect to the central portion in planes generally parallel to the plane of the ironing surface so as to provide for a contracted end ironing surface, means movably mounting the central portion on the body portion for movement for the central portion toward the body portion in a plane generally parallel to the ironing surface, and means connecting the central portion to the Wing portions to elect such movement of the wing portions as the central portion is so moved.

5. An elongated ironing table top structure having a body portion and an end portion in horizontal alignment, said end portion ibeing comprised of a pair of side Wing portions disposed in side @by side vertically overlapping relation to complementar-ily provide a generally at ironing surface, means movably mounting at least one of said wing portions on the body portion for movement of said one wing portion in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the top in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the ironing surface into increased overlapping relation with respect to the other wing portion so as to provide for a contracted end ironing surface.

6. An ironing table top structure having a horizontally elongated body portion and an end portion at one end of the .body portion, the body portion having parallel straight side edges and a at top surface, said end portion being comprised of a central portion and a pair of 6 side wing portions, the wing portions being arranged on opposite sides of the central portion in overlapping relation therewith to complementarily with the central portion provide a generally at extension of said flat top surface, the wing portions having straight remote side edges respectively disposed in rectilinear alignment with the side edges of the 'body portion, means movably mounting the wing portions on the body portion for inward swinging movement in planes :generally parallel to the plane of said at top surface into increased overlapping relation with respect to the central portion so as to provide for a contracted end ironing sur-face, and stop means on the central portion engageable with the wing portions for prohibiting relative outward movement of the wing portions beyond the point Where the wing portion and body portion side edges are in such rectilinear alignment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 329,950 Race Nov. 10, 1885 476,332 Tubbs lune 7, 1892 751,674 McKenzie Feb. 9, 1904 818,550 Nichols Apr. 24, 1906 876,857 Bugbee lan. 14, 1908 900,623 Walker Oct. 6, 1908 1,228,084 Wasson May 29, 1917 1,895,164 Kalgren Ian. 24, 1933 2,554,446 Nestor May 22, 1951 2,609,678 Pilley Sept. 9, 1952 2,617,213 Smith Nov. 11, 1952 2,718,077 Grisette Sept. 20, 1955 2,729,005 Foster Ian. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 277,239 Switzerland Aug. 31, 1951 UNTTED STATES PATENT oEEToE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 29391232 June Tv 1960 Donald L .Munson s in the printed specification It is hereby certified that error appear tion and that the said Letters of thev above numbered patent requiring correo Patent should read as corrected below.

for "rong" read ironing --3 Column Column l line 5559 d read understood column 3r 2q line 6? for "understo line 62y for "nf read in --3 Column 4i line 47V for# a'smulutaneously" read simultaneously umu; Column 5 line Signed and sealed this 15th day of November 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLlNE Attesting cer ROBERT C. WATSON CommissionenofPatents 

